England League and Cup Discussion

[spark]

Home bigsexybarry
Away Ruff Royals
Ground bigsexybarry CG
League Youth 1.1
Date 06 Jun 24 10:00
Crowd 9,204
Weather Sunny
Pitch Flat

We lost the toss and are batting first which is not ideal in a game we need to win. Whatever total we get is going to be chaseable on this pitch.

[Atko]

Well, we're still top of the league, and today we're playing away at bottom club, The Chumps' ground -

The Chumps CC vs The Raging Speed Horns
League Youth 2.1

Weather Sunny
Pitch Green

A greentop does not suit my three spinners at all. So, since most of my bowlers are spotty at best, I've yanked my average summery RFS out of the attack, and replaced him with 16yo up-and-coming batsman Ragnar McSpank, who happens to also have average summary bowling (once again, a little perk of "general" pulls), and as an RM, will be better suited to the conditions. I'm keeping him on defensive, and hope he doesn't get into trouble, but knowing the ME, he'll probably take a bucketload of wickets and get MoM (especially if he makes a score as well!) .

It's funny, the league match ratings graph has the bulk of the clubs tending to a 'Great Attractor' of about 114k. Only Dunbrody Academy London are flying high on 129k, but have underperformed (lying 5th) and will lose three top players in succesive weeks from next week. This league is going to get really bunched up, ratings-wise; let's just hope I can keep the momentum going while the rest scrap it out .

[Atko]

Home bigsexybarry
Away Ruff Royals
Ground bigsexybarry CG
League Youth 1.1
Date 06 Jun 24 10:00
Crowd 9,204
Weather Sunny
Pitch Flat

We lost the toss and are batting first which is not ideal in a game we need to win. Whatever total we get is going to be chaseable on this pitch.

Ack, bigsexybarry, one of my hoodoo teams (bit like Danger Dave's mob in SOD) - those buggers were always beating me. Rivalry stats in YOD - 8-2 to bigsexybarry, with them winning our last six encounters. I was glad to see the back of them when they promoted up to tier 1 .

The name always gave me a chuckle though.

[spark]

B. Glendinning (lfs) 3-0-13-1, D. Howe 10 (13b), H. Mitchell 54 (48b)
End of over 14 (8 runs) - Ruff Royals(98-1) RR 7.00

I guess it's going okay so far but we have recently lost our first wicket. Currently, on course for about 280 which doesn't feel enough although maybe I'm thinking more of 50 overs games.

[Atko]

Formidable total building here -

T. Kaseke (rm) 6-0-64-0, C. Hanon-Dalby 75 (55b), T. Topster 73 (54b)
End of over 20 (14 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(156-1) RR 7.80

- if my guys can keep the momentum going, we should bag the points and pump the NRR up to 11 (figuratively speaking!).

It's pleasing to have two expert summary bats at 2 and 3, both firing on all cylinders, and especially not getting out first ball!

[spark]

G. Williamson (lfm) 7-0-49-0, D. Howe 27 (31b), H. Mitchell 113 (78b)
End of over 22 (11 runs) - Ruff Royals(178-1) RR 8.09

It was going so well here with a very nice ton from Mitchell.

G. Williamson (lfm) 8-0-51-1, K. Fuls 2 (4b), L. Foot 1 (3b)
End of over 24 (3 runs) - Ruff Royals(184-4) RR 7.67

Three wickets in eight balls have rather changed the complexion of the game. Losing Galindo for nothing (expert summary bat getting out on his second ball) is going to hurt as he was one of the better and more experienced players in my team. It'll be the bowlers in to bat once another wicket falls.

[spark]

Formidable total building here -

T. Kaseke (rm) 6-0-64-0, C. Hanon-Dalby 75 (55b), T. Topster 73 (54b)
End of over 20 (14 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(156-1) RR 7.80

- if my guys can keep the momentum going, we should bag the points and pump the NRR up to 11 (figuratively speaking!).

It's pleasing to have two expert summary bats at 2 and 3, both firing on all cylinders, and especially not getting out first ball!

That's looking like a very good start on a green pitch.

[Atko]

Half time and absolute carnage from my guys -

The Raging Speed Horns        Runs  Balls
C. Kentish (c)      lbw b Jordan  4   12
T. Topster          not out  165 109
C. Hanon-Dalby  c Morais b Woodard  110  90
L. Loveless          not out  54  30
Extras:    (b 1, lb 0, w 3, nb 1)     5
Total: (2 wickets, 40 overs)       338  RR: 8.45

- half centuries, centuries, century and double century partnerships, geez, these boys knocked it out the park, literally. Kentish is feeling a bit miffed though

[spark]

N. Sharif (rfm) 8-0-54-2, J. Humphrey 13 (9b)
End of over 40 (9 runs) - Ruff Royals(272-10) RR 6.80

Only 272 which feels short. Maybe even by 40-50 runs. We're going to need to bowl really well. Those 3 wickets in 8 balls hurt us badly and slowed us down massively.

Credit to Mitchell for his 114 from 80 balls. Everyone else will have felt like they missed out.

[wolfberries]

Home FPCC England
Away wolfberries
Ground The Mark Nicholson Pub
League Youth 3.1
Date 06 Jun 24 10:00
Crowd 6,547
Weather Sunny
Pitch Even

Toss: wolfberries won the toss and elected to bowl.

The curtain falls on the innings of FPCC England. Now, the spotlight shifts to wolfberries, who will be tasked with chasing a target of 258. Let the chase begin!

That certainly is a big total, as the weather is sunny we may have a chance of chasing.

[Atko]

End of over 12 (5 runs) - The Chumps CC(71-0). 268 runs required from 28 overs. RR 5.92 RRR 9.57

The oppo have made a solid start - my ordinary, average, and capable summary seamers will struggle to take wickets. It's a greentop and my spinners are about to step in - the asking rate is our best weapon though, that's going to keep climbing...

[spark]

Home FPCC England
Away wolfberries
Ground The Mark Nicholson Pub
League Youth 3.1
Date 06 Jun 24 10:00
Crowd 6,547
Weather Sunny
Pitch Even

Toss: wolfberries won the toss and elected to bowl.

The curtain falls on the innings of FPCC England. Now, the spotlight shifts to wolfberries, who will be tasked with chasing a target of 258. Let the chase begin!

That certainly is a big total, as the weather is sunny we may have a chance of chasing.

I think that's very chaseable although wouldn't completely say I've worked out what's good on even yet.

[spark]

D. Buck (rfm) 5-0-37-0, A. Juffermans 53 (56b), J. van Gulik 14 (14b)
End of over 18 (14 runs) - bigsexybarry(104-2). 169 runs required from 22 overs. RR 5.78 RRR 7.68

I think they've got the run rate required more or less under control so we're going to need some wickets soon to fight back. The fact that our only wickets so far is from a trigger talent and a run out does not fill me with hope.

[Atko]

R. McSpank (rm) 7-0-25-0, R. Hoeben 27 (30b), J. Newsome 24 (29b)
End of over 26 (3 runs) - The Chumps CC(163-3). 176 runs required from 14 overs. RR 6.27 RRR 12.57

In any other scenario they'd be doing well, but the total is a long way off and time ticking down. The spinners ripped out the top three bats in short order. We're currently bowling our two weakest seamers. McSpank (the batsman) is doing sterling work, keeping it tight. Buckstein - the ordinary summary RF - is getting thrashed around the ground - I might contemplate swapping him out for McSpank in the short term until his bowling improves ...

[Atko]

Laboured it a bit, but there was never any doubt -

End of over 40 (6 runs) - The Chumps CC(267-6). 72 runs required from 0 overs. RR 6.67 RRR 0.00

Match Ratings
The Chumps CC The Raging Speed Horns
Batting - Top Order 6,231 7,692
Batting - Middle Order 5,401 5,125
Batting - Tail 2,383 3,406
Bowling - Seam 6,681 (32) 4,594 (24)
Bowling - Spin 6,476 (8) 7,319 (16)
Fielding/Keeping 6,250 7,895
Overall 105,630 113,594

71 run win in the end. Plus, our three nearest rivals - all in equal second place - lost today. This now means we sit 8 points clear at the top, with the best NRR in Youth 2.1. If I do promote to tier 1, I suspect it will be with one of the weakest youth sides to ever do so.